Germany Criticizes Israel’s Warfare “Habeck Should Have Stayed Silent”
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza as violating international law. “The famine, the suffering of the Palestinian population, the attacks in the Gaza Strip are – as we now also see in court – not compatible with international law,” he said during a citizen dialogue in Berlin.
For the first time, a member of the German government, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Green Party), has accused Israel of violating international law in the war against Hamas. The Union finds the statements “completely incomprehensible and unacceptable.” In the Bundestag, there is only silence in response to Habeck’s statement.
The sharp criticism from Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Green Party) on Israel’s strategy in the Gaza war has received a divided response from the opposition. On Saturday, Habeck explicitly accused Israel of breaking international law through military actions in the Gaza Strip. He said, “Of course, Israel must adhere to international law. And the famine, the suffering of the Palestinian population, the attacks in the Gaza Strip are – as we now also see legally – not compatible with international law.”
Previously, the German government had only appealed to the Israeli government to adhere to international law. The accusation of violating international law is new. However, the Ampel coalition did not respond on Sunday to whether this represents a change in the government’s stance towards Israel. None of the Bundestag factions from the SPD, Greens, and FDP were willing to comment.
The Union faction, on the other hand, reiterated its criticism of Habeck and the government. Johann Wadephul (CDU), Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader of the Union, considers the Vice Chancellor’s statements “completely incomprehensible and unacceptable.” He questioned whether this is the government’s position and called for clarification from the Justice Minister. The government should state whether it intends to make such judgments instead of courts, said Wadephul.
Support for Habeck comes from both the AfD and the Left Party. “Israel’s right to self-defense is unquestionable but is bound by compliance with international humanitarian law,” said AfD Bundestag member Matthias Moosdorf. The principle of proportionality is enshrined in international law, as is the protection of civilians. It is legitimate to question whether Israel’s military and political actions are still in line with international law. The International Criminal Court is “a suitable place for these investigations.” Moosdorf also emphasized Germany’s “special responsibility for Israel resulting from their shared history.”
Martin Schirdewan, Co-Chair of the Left Party, sees Habeck’s statements as “simply a summary of the decision of the International Court of Justice.” It is a matter of course to respect court decisions, he said. However, he criticized the lack of consistency in the Ampel’s insistence on international law. Despite this, solidarity with Israel remains, according to Schirdewan. Hamas, the Islamist terrorist organization, has once again fired rockets at the Tel Aviv area after four months. Multiple explosions were heard in the city center of Tel Aviv. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attacks. According to Israeli military reports, eight rockets were fired from the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip towards the Israeli coastal city. The army stated that several projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
